Help needed tracking a leak / drip from firewall pipe

BobK

BobK

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2019
Messages
386
Location
Parker, TX
My wife has a "zero drip" policy for out driveway. With a 2003 TJ it is a bit of a process to trace each leak to its source to resolve. So far I have repaired a rear main seal, oil pan, both differentials and now I'm tracing what I thought was a transmission leak, but it turns out to be something else.

Here is a picture of the source of the drip. I was able to trace it from the driveway to the bottom of the front frame up to behind the battery and behind the coolant tank for the AC system to this pipe coming out of the firewall. What is this and why is a brownish fluid coming out while the Jeep is just sitting and hasn't run in over a week while I was traveling?

Thanks in advance.

Bob



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Oh well, it appears as though you may have a heater core leak as that is the AC condensate drip tube and should only drip when the AC or defroster is used. You should check your coolant levels.
 
TJ4Jim said:
Oh well, it appears as though you may have a heater core leak as that is the AC condensate drip tube and should only drip when the AC or defroster is used. You should check your coolant levels.
Click to expand...

Coolant as in radiator, or coolant as in refrigerant?
 
BobK said:
Coolant as in radiator, or coolant as in refrigerant?
Click to expand...

Engine coolant will leak from the heater core into the condensate drip pan and dribble out the tube in your pic. The heater core and AC evap coils are installed next to each.

Was there a lot of rain where the Jeep was parked as it is possible water leaked into the system and it's just some crap dripping out.

You can usually rent a cooling system pressure test kit which would be a good test to perform.
 
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When My heater core went out, it drained from that condensation tube. Based on the color you described, I'd say it's coolant and the heater core needs replaced. Does it have a slightly slick feeling?
 
I will have to check in the morning, too dark to see the leak now. It was brownish, but I didn't touch, smell or taste, all of which i will do in the morning.

When you say coolant pressure test, are we talking the AC system or the radiator? I had it recharged about a month ago and was told it likely had a pinhole leak somewhere, but they couldn't spot it.

As for rain, yes it pour here in the past few day. God I hope its that and not the heater core. I've just watched a video on replacing the heater core and it looks like you have to reverse half the steps that Jeep took in assembling the damn thing on the assembly line.......
 
BobK said:
I will have to check in the morning, too dark to see the leak now. It was brownish, but I didn't touch, smell or taste, all of which i will do in the morning.

When you say coolant pressure test, are we talking the AC system or the radiator? I had it recharged about a month ago and was told it likely had a pinhole leak somewhere, but they couldn't spot it.

As for rain, yes it pour here in the past few day. God I hope its that and not the heater core. I've just watched a video on replacing the heater core and it looks like you have to reverse half the steps that Jeep took in assembling the damn thing on the assembly line.......
Click to expand...

Yes engine coolant/radiator system.

Hopefully it was just heavy rain, if you pull the wiper cowl off the air intake is under the grill and it can get clogged with tree crap and the like. That can cause water entry into the system.

Engine = Coolant/antifreeze
A/C System = Refrigerant
 
TJ4Jim said:
Yes engine coolant/radiator system.

Hopefully it was just heavy rain, if you pull the wiper cowl off the air intake is under the grill and it can get clogged with tree crap and the like. That can cause water entry into the system.

Engine = Coolant/antifreeze
A/C System = Refrigerant
Click to expand...

Thanks, I park under a tree and there very well could be some crap in there, I will open it up tomorrow and check.
 
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